A Match Sequence is a Pinball game mechanic where, at the end of a game, the last two digits of the players' scores (which will always be a multiple of 10) is compared against a random two-digit number (also a multiple of 10). If a player's digits match the game's, a free game is awarded (indicated with the infamous knocker sound). The match bonus was first introduced in 1957, using the single digit of the scores; score inflation eventually elevated the match to the last two digits.

Not too surprisingly, matches occur fairly infrequently. Older games had the chance of getting the free game set at around 10%, but newer games will either dynamically adjust the frequency of matches, or follow a level set by the operator, from a standard 7% to a paltry 1%.

Back when pinball was a controversial subject, this feature was often banned, as it was considered a form of gambling. While it's probably not that bad, the feature is specifically designed to get more money out of players: it has a disproportionately higher chance of giving a player a match if two have just played, so the other player will deposit money and they will both play again.

Older electro-mechanical pinballs used either light-up digits (for single-digit matches) or score reels (for two digits). The arrival of alphanumeric LEDs and, later, dot-matrix displays allowed match sequences to become more and more elaborate, often animated or otherwise specialized to the game's theme. Less creative machines simply show the number being generated, a practice that has all but fallen out of grace today.

Notable Match Sequences Using Alphanumeric LED Displays:

Back to the Future does this rather creatively. It starts with a weatherman reporting a severe thunderstorm headed for Hill Valley, then shows the lightning flying across the digit counters, then finally strikes a number.

Taxi shows a taxicab zipping across the display, pulling a pair of spinning boxes behind it. The boxes eventually settle down to form a pair of match digits.

In Space Shuttle, a pair of rapidly-changing digits chase each other across the various score displays, eventually settling down inside the "Match" display field.

The Simpsons (Data East) brands its Match Sequence as "Homer's Lucky Scratch-N-Match", where several digits are scratched off one by one until two remain.

In Black Knight 2000, two lightning bolts strike each other, and the digits roll, and stops at the matching digit. The Choir of Angels sing "YEAH!" if any of the digits match.

In Dr. Dude, a magnet pulls the word "match" and the last two digits of the players' scores, smushing them together. The magnet then reverses polarity to repel them, with "match" now forming the match number.

For The Phantom of the Opera, a set of musical notes follows along as a song plays, while two digits cycle through different values. The value when the song ends is the match number.

In Fun House, various numbers are shot at in a shooting gallery, the last one not shot as the match number.

Cyclone has a similar match sequence to Fun House, except that the numbers come in from the right and with different sounds.

Notable Match Sequences Using Dot Matrix Displays:

South Park's match sequence is (unsurprisingly) Toilet Humor-based: Terrance and Phillip fart out several numbers (contained within bubbles... somehow), one eventually popping. On tamer settings, they burp the bubbles instead.

White Water ends with Bigfoot bowling, with the pins being replaced by digits. When he rolls the ball, he knocks away all but two, which forms the match.

In Medieval Madness, a pair of numbers quickly flash by, then an arrow is fired from off-screen, skewering a roasted marshmallow and stopping the numbers.

Later software revisions of No Fear: Dangerous Sports implement the "dice roll" match feature, in additional to the standard match sequence.

In The Addams Family, Thing drags a wagon carrying a bag of numbers, and when the wagon hits a bump, two numbers fall off the wagon and form the match. On the "Gold Edtion", he's carrying a sack of gold instead.

In The Twilight Zone, one of the Invaders fires its laser gun to reveal the two numbers, and any non-matching scores instantly vaporize.

Black Rose pulls an interesting twist on this: your score's last two digits will appear... but there are three numbers in all, and they appear on bombs which ignite as soon as all three are shown. One of the fuses is a fake: the other two aren't.

Monopoly has Uncle Pennybags slamming his fist on the table, causing two nearby dice to pop up and display the number.

Pinball Magic does a "woman sawed in half" trick . When the halves separated they reveal the number.

No Good Gofers has Buzz kicking the golf ball down a field where it lands on a yard stick. Interestingly the ball has an odd habit of suddenly rolling away from the intended number.

Scared Stiff has Elvira flipping through TV channels displaying different numbers (which also doubles as a shout out as the phrases heard are from previous Williams pinball games). After five clicks, if none of the numbers match, she says "Oh, poo" and turns off the TV.

Theatre of Magic has the magician produce two doves from her hands, which fly together and produce the number.

In Avatar, a clip of Eywa seeds surrounding Jake is shown, with the match number superimposed on it.

For Indianapolis 500, assorted Indy cars past and present flash on the display, each sporting a different number. The final car's number forms the match.

In Corvette, a mechanic examines a car engine, using a magnifying glass to read the serial numbers. The final magnified digits form the match number.

Mechanic: "Hey, wait a minute — these numbers don't match!"

The Party Zone shows Captain B. Zarr flying through space in his rocket, and the exhaust smoke forms the match number.

AC/DC has video of Angus Young playing on-stage, during his infamous "mooning the audience" antic. He has his hand up to his ear, listening for the audience's cheers, then turns around and drops his shorts, mooning them. The numbers are on his butt.

In Baywatch, the camera pans down a line of female lifeguards, each holding a card with a two-digit number. The last woman's number is the match number. An operator configuration even enables jiggling breasts.

Data East's Hook shows two sword-welding hands Flynning; the number at the end of the fight is the match.

For X-Men (Stern), Colossus holds up the robot head of a Sentinel, then throws it towards the player. It explodes, leaving behind a few parts that spell the match number.

In Stern's The Walking Dead, the match sequence shows two zombies feeding on a victim. As they pull away entrails, the match number shows up within the guts.

Cactus Canyon was supposed to have one where six beer bottles are shot at and shattered, with the number appearing in the center- but, like many aspects of the table, it wasn't included because the table was rushed.

In Maverick The Movie, the dealer cuts the deck, revealing the match number on the bottom of the top half.

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